FORMER Longridge Towers head boy, Richard Kellett has organised a an exhilarating bike and hike adventure crossing some of the most breathtaking coastal, mountain and forest terrain Scotland has to offer in aid of a charity very close to his heart.

Richard, who lived in Berwick and the surrounding area from 1979 until moving to Mull a decade ago, is the event director of the Mull Grand Traverse, an event organised by the Martyn Bennett Trust, in aid of its own projects and Marie Curie Cancer ADVERTISEMENTCare.

Richard was a close friend of Martyn Bennett, who died in 2005. Richard said: "I wanted to create a unique challenge to raise money to support the trust and Marie Curie which would incorporate Martyn's passion for cycling and the outdoors and at the same time show off the varied and spectacular terrain which exists on the island that Martyn loved so much."

The trust was formed in 2005 in memory of Martyn, who tragically died at age of 33 after a struggle with cancer. Martyn, a winner of the coveted Glenfiddich award, was one of Scotland's most innovative young musicians and was dedicated to encouraging young musicians to make the most of their talents through teaching and through sharing his own vision of the possibilities of music. It is this aspect of Martyn's legacy that the trust seeks to promote, safeguard and continue.

Once the basics of the event had been identified, a small group of Martyn's friends, some of whom now make up the board of the trust, gathered together and tested themselves against the challenging, rugged terrain of Mull. After finishing the full, 53-mile platinum route, they celebrated by throwing a party where they compared their war stories from the magnificent island adventure they had all completed.

Martyn Bennett trustee Barryjohn Stewart remembers: "It was at this moment that we decided to open the Mull Grand Traverse up to fellow adventurers throughout the UK."

This year's event will take place on Saturday, August 23, 2008 on the Isle of Mull and is open to teams of 3-6 who will complete the course together. There are bronze, silver, gold and platinum finishes which range from 24 to 53 miles to suit people of differing fitness and ability.

Those interested in taking part can register or find out more online at www.mullgrandtraverse.com